Electrical plug and socket connection



NOV. 1, I J TUCKER 1,886,137

ELECTRICAL FLUG AND SOCKET CONNECTION Filed Aug. 19, 1929 Patna Nov. 1, 1932 1 1,886,137

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE JOHN BRISTOW TUCKER, OF TYSELEY, BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND ELECTRICAL PLUG AND SOCKET CONNECTION Application filed August 19, 1929, Serial No. 386,792, and in Great Britain January 16, 1929.

The present invention has relation to plug- In order that this invention may be clearly and-socket connections, more particularly understood and readily carried into practice, though not essentially those associated with a reference may be had to the appended explanswitch mechanism in such a manner that the atory sheet of drawing, upon which 6 plug pin cannot be withdrawn until such time Figure 1 is a plan view illustrating switch 55 as the switch has been opened, the present mechanism incorporating a plug-and-socket invention having for its object to provide for connection constructed according to the presa particularly efiicient mechanism of the ent invention.

aforesaid character incorporating certain fa- Figure 2 is an elevational View of a strip in cilities hereinafter referred to. utilized in the construction of the socket. on

According to the present invention I pro- Figure 3 is a perspective view of the socket vide an electrical plug-and-socket mechanism alone constructed from such strip. embodying in combination a plug pin mem- F lgures 4 and 5 are plan views of modificaber, a socket therefor, a switch mechanism as tions hereinafter referred to. sociated or adapted to be associated there- In one embodiment of the present invenwith, and means connecting the switch mechtion an elongated strip a of spring or resilient anism with the socket for enabling the pin to metal (see particularly Figure 2) is slotted be frictionally clutched by its socket (as dif- Centrally as at a and the other half is in ferentiated from being positively interlocked the form of a longitudinal central tongue a so or interengaged) when the switch is in the Which is passed through the slot as shown 70 closed position and released when the switch more particularly in Figure 3. The extremis in the open position. ity a is anchored to a stationary pillar or The present invention enables the standard post Z) and the other extremity a to a lever solid or split plug pin to be employed, said 5 taking a fulcrum upon the curled socket plug pin being efliciently clutched or gripped part a, see particularly Figure 1, and adaptby the actuation of the switch mechanism, as ed to be operated by the switch mechanism differentiated from being positively locked by to contract the socket when the switch is notching, grooving, slotting or other similar closed. The switch mechanism may comdevice, such means calling for specially preprise a dolly 0 pivotally mounted upon a stapared plug pin members and locking devices; tionary bridge 0 and adapted to actuate a 80 the clutching effected by this invention is so swinging contact arm engaged with fixed efiicaceous that by the ordinary manipulation contacts in well known manner. The dolly of the mechanism the plug pin cannot be with c is provided with a lateral extension 0 oil'- drawn with the switch mechanism closed. set from its normal pivot adapted to coop- The clutching means may comprise a loop crate with a forked extension (Z of an arm of spring or resilient strip metal constituting d pivoted at the point (Z in such a manner the socket and adapted to be contracted when that when the dolly c is manipulated the the switch is closed by the actuation of said arm d is rocked on its pivot (F. The arm (Z switch, or, alternatively, the socket may comis connected to the lever 11 by an insulating 40 prise a coil of spring or resilient metal wound link 6 preferably through a lost motion conafter the manner of a clock spring and adaptnection e and spring 6 bearing against ined to be contracted as before. sulating washers e, the operation being such The socket hereinbefore referred to may that when the contacts are made and the be an electrically live one or may be a socket circuit closed the socket a; is caused to clutch utilized in connection with an earthing cirthe plug pin 7 shown at the left hand part cuit, or may even be completely independent of the Figure 1, the other plug pin f of of any electrical influence, and be adapted to which is adapted to engage a normally split co-operate with a plain pin on the plug solely or other tubular socket g. Mechanism may for the purpose of locking the plug in posibe incorporated whereby the switch is locked tion when the switch is closed. in the off position when the plug pins are tremity connected to a lever-7t taking a fulcrum on the socket h, which lever is connected to the switch mechanism for the '-pur pose aforesaid.

In a still further embodiment (Figure two extremities of a spring or resilient strip 7 2' may be connected to adjacent pointson a pivotal lever 2' in such a manner that the loop is contracted by the swinging movementof thesaid lever 1, which movement is effected by the closing operation of the switch.

It is to be appreciated that: the present invention provides for astandard solid or split plug pin being employed, the said plug pin being efficiently clutched or gripped by the actuation of the switch-mechanism asdifferentiated frombeing positively locked by =notching,.grooving, slotting or other similar treatment, such means calling for specially prepared plug pin members andlocking devices. The clutching effected by this invention is so efiicaceous that by the ordinary manipulation of the mechanism the plug pin cannot be withdrawn with the switclrmechanism closed. Further, as previously stated,

.provisionmay be-made whereby the clutching socket cannot be closed :until such time as the plug pin hasbeen engaged therewith.

The clutching socket may be a normal socket adapted to be placed underelectricalinfluence when the switch is closed, or maybe anindependent socket utilized in connection with an earthing circuit,-or.may even be completely independent of any electrical infiuence'and be adapted to co-operate with a plain-pin on the plug purely for the purpose of locking the plug inposition when the switch is closed.

In each ofthe modifications aforeinstanced suitableinsulation is incorporated in operating mechanism connecting the switch dolly to .the clutching socket.

'I/Vhat- I claim asmy invention and desire to secureby Letters Patent is 1. In combination, an electric switch, a contractile socket for the reception of a plug pin, and means whereby closing of the switch contracts said socket.

2. In combination, an electricsw1tch,'an inherently resilient contractile socket for the H reception of a plug pin,'said socket being maintained normally in an expanded status by its inherent resiliency, and a connection between said switch and said socket whereby closing of the former contracts the latter.

3. In combination, an electric switch, a

socket for the reception of a plug pin, and

plug pin, and'ineansgwherebyclosing of the switch contracts said band socket.

5. In combination, an electric switch, a contractile socket for the reception of a plug pin, and a link and lever connection'b'etween said switch and said socket whereby closing of the former contracts the latter.

6. In combination, "an electric switch, a contractile socket for the reception of a plug pin, means maintaining said socket normally in an expanded condition, and a connection between said switch and said socket whereby closing of theform'er contracts the latter.

7. In combination, an electric switch, a strip of inherently resilient sheet metal coiled upon. itself to provide a contractile socket for the reception of a plug pin, and a connection between said switch and said socket whereby closing of the former contracts the latter.

8. In combination, an electric swltch, a J

strip of sheet metalbent upon itself to provide a contracti'lesocket for the reception of a plug pin, a'lever connected with said strip at one point and fulcrumed against said socket at another point for contracting said socket, and a connection between said switch and said lever whereby closing of the former actuates the latter to contract said socket.

9. In combination, an electric switch, a

contractile socket for the reception of a plug .11 pin, a lever connected with said socket'for contracting the same,and a connection between said switch and said lever whereby closin g of the former a'ctuates the latter to contract said socket.

10. In combination, a -socket for the reception oi 'a plug pin, an electric switchseparate'from said socket, and meanswhereby closingof the switch is effective to clamp a plug pin within said socket.

11. In combination, a sock tion of a plug pin, an electric switch separate from said socket, and means whereby closing of the switch is eifective to frictionally secure a plug pin within'said socket.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

J OHN BRISTOIV TUCKER.

t for the recep- 

